The Shiv Sena’s Dasara rally in Mumbai on Thursday violated silent zone norms despite the Bombay High Court ordersm as all speeches at the programme crossed the noise limit of 60 decibel (dB).
Ironically, Sena leader and State’s Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam’s speech was the loudest of the lot reaching a noise level of up to 97dB, violating environment protection laws.
Sumaira Abdulali, an anti-noise pollution activist and convener of Awaaz Foundation, has sent a complaint to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis with reports of the decibel tests conducted by her outside Shivaji Park, the traditional venue of Sena’s Dasara rally.
HC orderShivaji Park was made a silent zone in 2010. Ever since, the Sena approaches the court requesting permission to hold rally and it is granted with strictures that the noise level will not go beyond 60dB.
“Awaaz Foundation measured noise levels at the Shiv Sena Dasara function yesterday to check for compliance with conditions of a recent Bombay High Court Order,” said the letter sent by Ms. Abdulali.As per the test done by the Awaaz Foundation, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s speech reached 89.4dB.
The complaint letter has demanded action against the Sena, an ally of the State and Central governments, under provisions of the Bombay Police Act and the Environment Protection Act.
The organisers may face one year imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs. 5 lakh.
Earlier instancesThis is not the first time that Sena rally has violated noise norms. In 2012 and in 2013, Ms. Abdulali conducted a similar exercise and complained to the then Chief Minister. However no action was taken.
